4 Dead, Many Injured After Minibus "Drove Into" Beijing Market

[HAPPY2BME]

Four people are dead and many more injured after a minibus drive into a market in the northern region of Beijing. While China's traffic safety record is not exactly stellar, with many on edge following the Berlin attack, this event is noteworthy as China has faced a threat from Islamist militants operating in its far western region of Xinjiang who have been blamed for a series of attacks in recent years.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-12-21/4-dead-many-injured-after-minibus-drove-beijing-market

[Gamle-ged]

China has had their problems with Islamic terrorists for years. I suggested a few years back that if the West were to meekly surrender to Islamism, China might well step in anywhere in the world and brutally crush Islamism, with no concern for collateral damage...

[SVPete]

This may prove to be an Islamic terrorist incident, but it should be noted that the situation in China is pretty complex. First, there are 1200 or 1300 miles between Beijing and the border of Xinjiang Province. Second, China is very restrictive about Muslim minorities traveling around China or traveling to other countries (they are not even allowed to have their passports in their own possession). Third, in the province just east of Xinjiang Province, Qinghai Province, the local Muslims coexist peacefully with Han Chinese and other ethnic minorities (e.g. Tibetans). Muslims attend and work at Qinghai University in the provincial capital, Xining.

My daughter attends Qinghai University and is the source of my information.

[HAPPY2BME]

This may prove to be an Islamic terrorist incident, but it should be noted that the situation in China is pretty complex. First, there are 1200 or 1300 miles between Beijing and the border of Xinjiang Province. Second, China is very restrictive about Muslim minorities traveling around China or traveling to other countries (they are not even allowed to have their passports in their own possession). Third, in the province just east of Xinjiang Province, Qinghai Province, the local Muslims coexist peacefully with Han Chinese and other ethnic minorities (e.g. Tibetans). Muslims attend and work at Qinghai University in the provincial capital, Xining.

My daughter attends Qinghai University and is the source of my information.

==============================

Is your daughter Chinese?

I have seen more than one documentary on the deep mistrust in both Xinjiang and Qinhai provinces.  Pretty ugly, violent stuff.

[SVPete]

No, she's studying Mandarin and Chinese culture. Immersion on steroids, so to speak. She had some trouble find a hair salon that wasn't afraid to cut her curly hair. She overhears some interesting chit-chat between strangers who don't know her Mandarin is pretty good. And as for buying shoes locally, even normally available men's shoes are too small for her.